Brace hinge

ABSTRACT

A brace hinge comprising a pair of opposed housings having a plurality of elongated flexible alternate ribs extending from the opposed housings, with the ribs of each housing being slidably received intermediate the ribs of the other housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hinges, and more particularly to bracehinges for a wearer's joint, such as the knee.

Although the knee-joint has been described as a hinge joint, it is morecomplicated in nature, and may be considered as having threearticulations of two different types. The first type of motion is acondyloid articulation and an ovoid articular surface, or condyle, isreceived in an elliptical cavity to permit flexion, extension,abduction, adduction, and circumduction, without axial rotation of thejoint. The second type of articulation is arthrodial which only permitsgliding movement. Such motion is defined by the apposition of planesurfaces, or one slightly concave and the other slightly convex, withthe amount of motion between the surfaces being limited by the ligamentsor osseous processes surrounding the articulation.

The knee-joint is made up of two condyloid joints and a third jointwhich is partially arthrodial, since the articular surfaces are notmutually adapted to each other and the movement is not a simple glidingone. The principal movements that take place at the knee-joint areflexion and extension. The movements of flexion and extension at thisjoint differ from those in a typical hinge joint, since the axis aroundwhich motion takes place is not fixed but shifts forward duringextension and backward during flexion.

Individuals who have sustained knee injuries, who have had operations toremove cartilage, or who have weak knee joints from causes such asarthritis primarily need protection against lateral motion of the kneein a direction transverse to the plane of flexion and extension, such asmight be caused by a blow to the side of the knee. At the same time, asuitable knee brace should not interfere with the normal flexion andextension of the leg. The brace should protect the knee against sidewisemotions during both flexion and extension, and should lie parallel theleg proximal and distal the knee joint at all positions of the joint.

A various assortment of hinges have been proposed in the past for use inbraces, and normally have taken the form of metal structures which inmany cases are unduly complex. In addition, the metal hinges result inan undue amount of weight for the brace, and must be removed from thebrace itself when it is desired to launder the brace, since the metalhinges may rust. Further, the prior hinges normally have a fixed pivotalstructure, and are not normally adjustable in length or in the amount offorce required to bend the hinge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a bracehinge of simplified construction and improved operation.

The brace hinge of the present invention comprises, a first hinge memberhaving a housing, and a plurality of elongated flexible ribs extendingfrom one end of the housing, with the ribs being spaced laterally acrossthe housing and defining a plurality of laterally spaced groovesextending longitudinally in the housing. The hinge has a second hingemember having a housing, and a plurality of elongated flexible ribsextending from one end of the second member housing, with the secondmember ribs being spaced laterally across the second member housing anddefining a plurality of laterally spaced grooves extendinglongitudinally in the second member housing. The ribs of the first hingemember are slidably received in the grooves of the second hinge member,and the ribs of the second hinge member are slidably received in thegrooves of the first hinge member. A cuff is provided for supporting thehinge adjacent a wearer's joint, such as the knee joint. The cuff hasmeans for securing the housing of one of the hinge members generallyparallel the wearer's extremity abd proximal the wearer's joint, andmeans for securing the housing of the other hinge member generallyparallel the wearer's extremity and distal the wearer's joint.

A feature of the present invention is that the housings of the first andsecond hinge members are spaced apart in the region of the wearer'sjoint, such that the rib portions intermediate the housings are locatedadjacent the joint.

Another feature of the invention is that the rib portions intermediatethe housing flex during movement of the wearer's extremity about thejoint while end portions of the ribs slide in the housings.

Thus, a feature of the invention is that the hinge flexes to accommodatemotion of the joint.

Still another feature of the invention is that the distance between thehousings may be modified.

Thus, a feature of the invention is that the hinge accommodates bothnormal extension and flexion of the wearer's joint while preventingsidewise motion of the joint whether the extremity is flexed orextended.

Yet another feature of the invention is that the amount of forcerequired to flex the hinge may be modified by adjustment of the distancebetween the housings.

A further feature of the invention is that the hinge is preferably madefrom a plastic material, such that the hinge has a relatively lightweight and need not be removed from the brace cuff during laundry of thecuff.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the followingdescription of the embodiments of this invention and from the appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a wearer's leg illustrating a pair ofhinges of the present invention as positioned on inner and outer sidesof the wearer's knee;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the hinge of the present inventionas flexed by the wearer's knee;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, illustrating a pair of hingemembers for the hinge of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along theline 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along theline 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the hinge of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along theline 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along theline 8--8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the hinge of the present invention illustratingadjustment in the length of the hinge;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are plan views illustration flexation of the hinge ofthe present invention; FIG. 12 is a sectional view of another embodimentof the hinge of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an outer perspective view of a knee brace utilizing the hingeof the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an inner perspective view of the brace of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along theline 15--15 of FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there are shown inner and outer hingesgenerally designated 20 in position for bracing a wearer's knee.Although the hinge of the present invention will be described primarilyfor use in connection with a knee brace, it will be understood that thehinge may be utilized for other suitable purposes, such as a brace for awearer's elbow.

With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the hinge 20 has a first and second hingemember 22a and 22b respectively having a housing 24a and 24b and aplurality of elongated flexible ribs or fingers 26a and 26b. As shown,the first set of ribs 26a are spaced laterally across the first hingemember 22a, with one inner end 28a of the first ribs 26a being receivedin the housing 24a, and with the other end 30a projecting from thehousing 24a. The housing 24a of the first hinge member 22a may comprisea pair of opposed side plates 32a and a pair of end plates 34 secured tothe side plates 32a at edges of the housing 24a. The one end 28a of thefirst ribs 26a are secured to the side plates 32a in a laterally spacedrelationship inside the housing 24a, such that the first ribs 26a definea plurality of laterally spaced grooves 36a extending longitudinally inthe housing 24a. Also, in the particular form shown, the end plates 34of the first hinge member 22a are spaced from the adjacent side ribs 26asuch that they also define longitudinally extending grooves intermediatethe plates 34 and the adjacent ribs 26a.

Similarly, the second hinge member 22b has a pair of side plates 32bsecured to one inner end 28b of the second ribs 26b while the otherouter end 30b of the seconds ribs 26b project from the second housing24b. The one end 28b of the second ribs 26b are spaced laterally acrossthe second housing 24b, such that the ribs 26b define a plurality oflaterally spaced grooves 36b extending longitudinally in the secondhousing 24b. In the particular form, as shown, the side ribs 26b maydefine end plates of the second housing 24b.

The width of the first ribs 26a is approximately equal to the width ofthe second ribs 26b, such that the width of the first grooves 36a in thehousing 24a is approximately equal to the width of the second ribs 26b,and the width of the grooves 36b in the second housing 24b isapproximately equal to the width of the first ribs 26a. Also, the firstribs 26a are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to thethickness of the second ribs 26b, and the second ribs 26b are spacedapart a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the first ribs26a. Accordingly, the distance or thickness of the first grooves 36abetween the first ribs 26a is approximately equal to the thickness ofthe second ribs 26b, and the distance or thickness of the second grooves36b between the second ribs 26b is approximately equal to the thicknessof the first ribs 26a.

The first and second hinge members 22a and b are assembled into thehinge 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. As shown, the ribs 26a of thefirst hinge member 22a are received in the grooves 36b of the secondhinge member 22b intermediate the second ribs 26b, and the ribs 26b ofthe second hinge member 22b are received in the grooves 36a of the firsthinge member 22a intermediate the first ribs 26a. Thus, in thisconfiguration, the outer ends 30a of the first ribs 26a are received inthe housing 24b of the second hinge member 22b, while the outer ends 30bof the second ribs 26b are received in the housing 24a of the firsthinge member 22a. Due to the relative spacing between the ribs 26a and bof the housing 24a and b, it will be apparent that the ribs 26a of thefirst hinge member 22a are slidably received in the grooves 36b of thesecond hinge member 22b, and the ribs 26b of the second hinge member 22bare slidably received in the grooves 36a of the first hinge member 22awith the contiguous ribs 26a and b being closely spaced and generallyparallel in a relaxed condition of the hinge 20. With reference to FIGS.6 and 9, the spacing or distance between the housing 24a and b may besuitably adjusted through movement of the housings 24a and b relativeeach other while the ribs 26a and b slide in the associated grooves 36band a. As shown, when the housings 24a and b of the first and secondhinge members 22a and b are spaced apart, portions 38a and 38b of therespective alternate ribs 26a and b are located intermediate thehousings 24a and b.

With referece to FIGS. 6-8, in one form, the hinge members 22a and b maybe slightly curved laterally across the hinge members 22a and b in orderto conform to the contour of the wearer's extremity. In an alternativeform, as shown in FIG. 12, the hinge may be formed in a generally planarconfiguration laterally across the hinge member 22.

The ribs 26a and b may be made of any suitable flexible material.However, in a preferred form, the ribs 26a and b are made of a suitableplastic material, such as polycarbonate, in order to reduce the weightof the hinge 20 and permit convenient laundering of a brace in which thehinge 20 is placed without concern of damage to the hinge 20 whichotherwise might be caused to a metal hinge due to rust. Thus, the sideplates 32a and b and end plates 34 may also be made of a suitableplastic material in order to accomplish this result.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, in a spaced configuration of thehousings 24a and b, the intermediate portions 38a and b of the ribs 26aand b are permitted to flex while the outer ends 30a and b of the ribs26a and b slide in the grooves of the housings 24b and a, respectively,in which they are received. Thus, the ribs 26a and b permit relativemovement of the housing 24a and b during flexation of the ribs 26a andb. In addition, it will be apparent that the amount of force required toflex the ribs 26a and b in the hinge 20 will be dependent upon thespacing between the housings 24a and b, such that the required force maybe modified by suitable adjustment of the distance between the housings24a and b. Further, the spacing between the housings 24a and b may beadjusted for a particular brace in which it will be placed and for theparticular requirements of a wearer's joint.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, inner and outer hinges 20 may besecured on opposed sides of the wearer's joint, such as the knee, asshown, with the housings 24a of the first hinge members 22a beingsecured on opposed sides of the wearer's extremity proximal the joint,and with the housings 24b of the second hinge members 22b being securedon opposed sides of the wearer's extremity distal the joint. Inaddition, the housings 24a and b of the hinges 20 are spaced apart, suchthat the intermediate portions 38 of the hinge ribs are located adjacentthe joint. In this configuration, the hinges permit extension of thejoint, since the housings 24a and b are permitted to move relative eachother in a longitudinal direction while the ribs of the hinge members22a and b slide in the associated grooves. Further, with reference toFIG. 2, the hinges permit flexation of the joint during flexation of therib portions 38, with the housings 24a and b of the hinges 20 remainingat relatively fixed longitudinal positions proximal and distal thewearer's joint. As previously indicated, the amount of force required toflex the hinge may be adjusted through modification of the spacingbetween the housings 24a and b of the first and second hinge members 22aand b. When secured in place along the sides of the wearer's joint, thehinges 20 thus support the wearer's joint while permitting extension andflexation of the joint.

With reference to FIGS. 13-15, the inner and outer hinges 20 areretained in a harness of a knee brace 40. The harness has an upper strap42 and a lower strap 44 immovably secured with respect to the innerhinge, and attachable to the outer hinge. The harness also has anelastic cuff 52 and internal padding for the comfort of the wearer.

With respect to the outer hinge, the proximal or first housing 24a ofthe hinge member 22a is retained in a leather pocket 48 having an innerlayer 48a and an outer layer 48b. The distal or second housing 24b ofthe second hinge member 22b is retained in a leather pocket 46 having aninner layer 46a and an outer layer 46b. The pockets 46 and 48 aresecured to the elastic cuff 52 by suitable means, such as by lines ofstitching 50. The cuff 52 may be made of any suitable material, such asa two-way stretch fabric. The outer layers 48b and 46b of the pocketsare spaced from the intermediate portions 38 of the ribs 26. The cuff 52may have an outer cover 54 of elastic material secured by stitching 55to the cuff 52 in order to cover the intermediate portions 38 of theribs 26. However, the cover 54 is sufficiently free from the cuff 52 topermit flexation of the ribs 26 beneath the cover 54. The inner layers48a and 46a of the pockets 48 and 46 may overlap beneath theintermediate portions 38 of the ribs 26.

The cuff 52 preferably has a central back opening 70 to prevent bindingof the cuff material when the knee is flexed, and a central frontopening 72 to assist the wearer in centering the harness over the kneecap. The cuff 52 has a pair of proximal posts 60 and 62 extendingthrough the outer layer 48b of the pocket 48, such that the posts 60 and62 are retained at a fixed position relative the proximal housing 24a ofthe outer hinge. Similarly, the cuff 52 has a pair of distal posts 64and 66 which are secured at a fixed position relative the distal housing24b of the outer hinge. The cuff 52 also has internal pads 67, 68, and69 of a suitable material, such as foam, having elastic covers 73, 74,and 75, respectively located adjacent the proximal housing 24a, theintermediate rib portions 38, and the distal housing 24b.

The inner hinge 20 is similarly retained in the cuff 52. Thus, the cuff52 has a pair of leather pockets 80 and 82 to receive the distal andproximal hinge housings 24b and a, respectively, an outer elastic cover84 to cover the intermediate rib portions 38, and inner foam pads 86,87, and 88. As shown, the upper strap 42 passes between the upper pocket82 and the cuff 52, and the pocket 82 and strap 42 are secured to thecuff 52 by suitable means, such as by a line of stitching 90. Thus, thestrap 42 is retained at a fixed position relative the proximal housing24a of the inner hinge. Similarly, the lower strap 44 is retained at afixed position by stitching 92 relative the distal housing 24b of theinner hinge, with the strap 44 passing between the lower inner pocket 80and the cuff 52.

Accordingly, the proximal and distal housings 24a and b of the inner andouter hinges 20 are retained in the leather pockets of the harness inorder to prevent angular movement of the hinges 20 relative the wearer'sextremity. However, the housings 24a and b of the inner and outer hingesare permitted to longitudinally move slightly within the pockets inorder to provide additional flexibility in following the action of thewearer's knee.

As shown, the upper and lower straps 42 and 44 include a back strapportion 94 having two rows of openings 96, and a pair of front strapportions 98 and 100 with each having a row of openings 102. Afterplacement of the knee brace 40 about the wearer's extremity, the frontopening 72 is centered over the wearer's knee cap. Next, the back strapportions 94 of the straps 42 and 44 are passed around the outer hingeand are secured in place by passing the posts 60, 62, 64, and 66 throughthe openings 96 of the straps 42 and 44 according to the desired fit ofthe brace. Next, the front strap portions 98 and 100 of the straps 42and 44 are passed around the cuff 52 and are secured to the posts 60,62, 64, and 66 through the openings 102. In this configuration, thebifurcated front strap portions 98 and 100 permit conformation of thestraps to the shape of the wearer's extremity. Although the brace 40 hasbeen described as utilizing cooperating posts and strap openings, itwill be apparent that any suitable fastening means may be utilized forthe straps and cuff, such as hook and loop fastening strips.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:
 1. A hinge, comprising:a first hinge member having a housing,and a plurality of elongated flexible ribs extending from one end ofsaid housing, said ribs being spaced laterally across the housing anddefining a plurality of laterally spaced grooves extendinglongitudinally in the housing; a second hinge member having a housing,and a plurality of elongated flexible ribs extending from one end of thesecond member housing, the second member ribs being spaced laterallyacross the second member housing and defining a plurality of laterallyspaced grooves extending longitudinally in the second member housing,said ribs of the first hinge member being slidably received in thegrooves of the second hinge member, and said ribs of the second hingemember being slidably received in the grooves of the first hinge member;and means for securing the housing of one hinge member generallyparallel a wearer's extremity proximal a wearer's joint, and means forsecuring the housing of the other hinge member generally parallel thewearer's extremity distal the joint, with said housings being spacedfrom each other in the region of the joint.
 2. The hinge of claim 1wherein the width of the grooves in said first and second memberhousings is approximately equal to the width of the ribs received insaid grooves.
 3. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the width of the firstmember grooves is approximately equal to the width of the second membergrooves.
 4. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the grooves insaid first and second members is approximately equal to the thickness ofthe ribs received in said grooves.
 5. The hinge of claim 1 wherein thewidth and thickness of the first member ribs is approximately equal tothe width and thickness of the second member ribs.
 6. The hinge of claim1 wherein said ribs of the first and second hinge members are generallyparallel in a relaxed condition of the hinge.
 7. The hinge of claim 1wherein the distance between said first and second hinge members isadjustable.
 8. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said ribs of the first andsecond hinge members are made from a plastic material.
 9. The hinge ofclaim 1 wherein the first and second hinge members are slightly curvedlaterally across the hinge.
 10. The hinge of claim 1 including a secondhinge as claimed in claim 1, and in which the securing means secures thepair of hinges on opposite sides of the wearer's extremity.
 11. A bracefor support of a wearer's joint, comprising:inner and outer hinges, eachof said hinges having a proximal and distal housing; means for securingthe proximal housing of each hinge generally parallel the wearer'sextremity and proximal the wearer's joint; means for securing the distalhousing of each hinge generally parallel the wearer's extremity anddistal the wearer's joint; and each of said hinges having a first set ofelongated flexible ribs secured to the associated proximal housing andhaivng free ends extending from the associated proximal housing, and asecond set of elongated flexible ribs alternated intermediate the ribsof said first set, said second set of ribs being secured to theassociated distal housing and having free ends extending from theassociated distal housing.
 12. The brace of claim 11 including anelongated cuff for placement about the wearer's extremity, and in whichthe proximal and distal securing means comprises pocket means on saidcuff.
 13. The brace of claim 12 including strap means for securingproximal and distal portions of the cuff about the wearer's extremity.